She first visited London at the age of ten and ever since then dreamed of returning – as a citizen. Thanks to her persistence, she made that dream come true. Slovak native Rebeka Jurčacková has been living in the capital of the United Kingdom since 2017 and, as she says, this melting pot of culture, history, and nations continues to fascinate her. But that is far from enough for her. On social media, in the theater, and through exhibitions she tells the stories of her fellow Slovaks as well as of Czechs.
What brought you to London? And in what ways has England been beneficial for you?
I moved to the United Kingdom in 2017 when I enrolled at the University of Winchester. It was my dream – since childhood I loved the books of Jane Austen, the British accent, manners, and history, so after finishing secondary school the choice was clear. Studying in England was an immense joy for me because it was so different from what I was used to at home. No rote memorization – professors encouraged us to think critically and develop our own projects rather than waiting for someone else to assign us a role. This experience turned out to be crucial in London, where I decided to move after completing my studies. London never sleeps – it is a city of incredible diversity, where you meet dozens of nationalities and cultures that bring inspiration as well as professional opportunities. One of London’s great positives is also the strong Slovak and Czech community, which is immensely friendly and helpful. I think that is very important and often underestimated – a compatriot you can rely on in a foreign country can offer a helping hand at the very moment when everything else fails.
In your videos you promote Slovak history, culture, and even mineral springs. What inspired you to do this?
The impulse came quite naturally. Since childhood I loved Slovak nature – much of the credit goes to my parents. My father is an avid fisherman, so we often spent days by the water, and my mother took me to castles and chateaux where she told me Slovak legends. When I went abroad, I realized more and more that Slovakia is a completely unknown country for many. That motivated me to start creating videos that show the beauty of our nature, history, and traditions. A major milestone came when I met the inspiring ladies behind the nonprofit Global Slovakia. They invited me to collaborate, to present Slovakia to the world through videos and educational online programs. These are intended mainly for Americans with Slovak roots who are looking for ways to connect with their cultural heritage, and who often want to return to or at least discover Slovakia. This is how projects such as Building Foundations, Slovak Welcome, and the Slovak Circle community were created – thanks to them, I now help connect people all over the world with their Slovak roots.
Which of your posts has had the biggest response recently, and why?
Among static posts, the most successful is the series I came up with and called “Did You Know?”, which I create for Global Slovakia. I choose the most interesting facts about Slovakia – from culture, history, natural phenomena, or records our country has achieved. The most successful posts from this series have reached over 38,000 views – completely organically, without any paid promotion. Among reels, the most effective so far has been the format “Things Slovaks know that you don’t…”, where I present Slovak customs, traditions, and everyday realities in a playful and accessible way. People living abroad feel closer to the country of their ancestors thanks to this. They often write to me that these videos reminded them of childhood, how their grandparents took them mushroom picking, or they recall their American Christmases with grandma’s Slovak cabbage soup. A big response also came from my personal reel about my great-grandfather’s log house and how our ancestors once lived in such traditional wooden homes.
From the play Extreme: The New Norm by Slovak Theatre London at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.
Who follows your posts – more young people or older generations?
I think emotional connection is the reason my posts resonate across generations. My audience is diverse, but at the moment my largest follower base is in the 25 to 45 age group, which is great, because this generation is looking for new ways to connect with their roots and rediscover the beauty and potential of Slovakia.
You also succeeded with the small Slovak Theatre London (STL), which stages stories of Czechs and Slovaks. What does it take to make such a project succeed abroad?
STL is a true passion project for me. We operate as a professional theater, but it is not easy at all. It means dealing with financing, grants, production, technology, marketing, costumes and sets, renting spaces, visual identity, communication with the media and foreign partners – and at the same time getting up on stage and acting. The main credit for building up the theater to its current level goes to our artistic director Simona Vrabcová. Having at least two people makes it easier to support one another and handle even situations that might otherwise seem unmanageable. Our latest performance Extreme: The New Norm received excellent reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and proved that Slovak and Czech stories also have their place on British stages. My advice for anyone who would like to do something similar is: build a strong team and be ready to face the fact that 80 percent of the work will not be visible to the audience, but it is precisely that part that determines the outcome. And above all: the important thing is to start. My motto is: “Better done than perfect.”
What are you working on now?
An exhibition Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain in collaboration with photographer Robert Viglasky (who has shot film productions such as Peaky Blinders and Rivals). It presents the stories and portraits of Slovaks and Czechs living in the United Kingdom and opens on September 17 at the Nunnery Gallery in London. It runs until September 22, and entry is free – you just need to reserve a ticket in advance through Eventbrite. You are warmly invited.
The author is a staff writer for Deník
CV BOX
Slovak native Rebeka Jurčacková has lived in the capital of the United Kingdom since 2017.
She studied at the University of Winchester in the Performing Arts program, which combines acting, playwriting, camera work, and theater and film production.
Through social media and various arts projects, she introduces the culture, nature, and history of Slovakia to the public abroad and to Slovaks living outside their homeland, combining her artistic and producing experience with storytelling – about her compatriots, Czechs, and also about Slovak society and traditions.
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